Bridge Technologies upgrades its ASI monitoring solutions with VB246 card

Bridge Technologies has recently announced the release of its VB246. This new ASI input option card is created or real-time high-density monitoring in remote Head-end, Regional Edge-Multiplexer, Modulator and Transmitter sites. It expands the abilities of the existing VB242 by accommodating customers who require higher ASI density by providing six ASI inputs in parallel.

In a typical 1RU chassis, two VB246 units could be integrated to achieve monitoring over 13 channels in parallel (with the 13th channel constituting an ASI input from either VB120 or VB220 controllers). The VB246 also represents an expansion of the standards and functionalities of the original VB242 blade; supporting DVB-ASI according to EN 50083-9 Annex B, Burst mode, Spread mode and Legacy M2S, as well as accommodating both 188-byte and 204-byte packet formats.

The net result is an increase in throughput and flow count for broadcasters working with high-density ASI transports, allowing for more detailed tracking of performance metrics. These metrics can be viewed as part of a larger system through the VBC controller, as a stand-alone unit using a normal web browser or even through a third-party management system.

Speaking about the technological advances present in the VB246, Simen K. Frostad, President, said “At the core of Bridge’s mission is the provision of monitoring equipment that makes a tangible difference to the operational success of broadcasters. Reducing operating expenses and increasing the quality of the viewer experience are paramount, and effective monitoring is the foundation of it all.”